“AN ACT

INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS REGARDING LEGAL ADOPTION”

PREAMBLE

Whereas, Article II, Section 13 of the Constitution declares that, “the State
recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect
their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. Likewise, Article XV,
Sec. 3 provides that, “the State shall defend the right of children to assistance,
including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect,
abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development”.

Whereas, there is an estimated 1.8 million orphans in the Philippines. In 2012, the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has facilitated the
processing of the legal adoption of 6,558 children from 2006 to 2011, or an average
of 1,300 children annually. The Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB), has placed
4,406 Filipino children for adoption in other countries from 2000 to 2011, or an
average of 400 children annually.

Whereas, these numbers are not enough. Many children are still in orphanages or
child care agencies, and it would be for the best interest of the children if they can be
placed in the care of families legally.

Whereas, the DSWD and the ICAB agrees that there is lack of knowledge and
awareness about the legal process involved in adoption.

Whereas, there is also a social stigma attached to children of incest, rape or those
who have problems with their parental history which holds prospective parents to
adopt them.

NOW THEREFORE, this bill seeks to eliminate the stigma attached to the child and
to augment the number of adopted children by increasing public awareness.

July 23, 2014

Submitted by:

EDRIC PILAPIL
NOEL SERRANO
ELOISA TECSON

www.jointcouncil.org, Philippines: A Country Update, May 1, 2010

GMA News, February 9, 2012, Adopt Children Legally by Karen Galarpe
www.rappler.com, DSWD: Get rid of adoption stereotypes on TV by Paterno Esmaquel II, March 24, 2012